[jmstein7]

If you see this letter reprinted anywhere, please let us know!

[NonValueAdded]

Isn't it amazing how little play the Rally For America is getting? I can understand how some outlets are reluctant to play up an event ahead of time when sponsored by a media competitor (Glen Beck and the stations that carry his show). Still, once the event happens, then it becomes news - reportable news.

We had 2,000 show up for our rally, braving a thunderstorm to do so. Yet our local paper (Florida Today) only has a text story posted online and no photos. They also mention a peace rally that occurred at the same time drawing only 100. No story there, 20:1 turnout? [I'm going to buy today's edition and will temper my critism with another post, if warranted.]

We had no TV coverage, not even from the cable news channel that purports to be all-local, all the time. The only mention I saw from the Orlando outlets that claim the Space Coast as part of their coverage area was about a much smaller rally in Winter Park. Hey, at least they got some coverage! So to be fair, it isn't a complete blackout, but “buried on page 5” comes to mind.

Does a media outlet have complete editorial control over what they publish? Absolutely. However, the exercise of that control, when tilted towards one point of view, when not exercised dispassionately, is indisputably bias.

[bellevuesbest]

Way to go!

[2timothy3.16]

done and bump

[demosthenes the elder]

well, I'll give it a go, but you know these buttpirates will never give us any notice.

[Anarchist]

Perhaps staging the rally right in front of the newspaper's offices or the television studios might make it difficult to ignore.

[MistyVioletMoon]

Misty Violet Moon

Sent them individualy to the non-news as I call them organizations. I felt it was better to send one to each individually.

Thank You for taking the time to set this up!

[Copernicus]

Posted to CCRM to consider

[DAVEY CROCKETT]

DONE

[rocky88]

Does anyone have this media address book with commas instead of semi-colons? AOL won't accept it this way. Thank you!

[rocky88]

I did get a personal reply from Aaron Brown:

"At the risk of being provocative I am attaching a note received earlier tonight. It is one heck of a coincidence. Think of the chances that two people would write the same thing. Why do I feel a campaign is underway?

A"

(followed by the same form letter I sent from another FReeper...)

anyway, here's my response to Mr. Brown (I tried to be glib and non-confrontational!):

"Mr. Brown,

A Campaign Underway... YES. "Thinking" People are just darn tired of the way your network and others are presenting the news. How about a little more balance to the issues? Has anyone suggested that in light of falling ratings at CNN and MSNBC? Obviously people are enjoying hearing both sides (i.e. Fox News' recent success) so why not join the bandwagon?

You'll find this amusing, but in my quest for the REAL story each day, even I get a little tired of just watching C-SPAN - it's not as stimulating as the networks, of course. Throw those of us that feel this way a bone once in a while! I would love to have a change of pace by watching CNN and seeing some new faces occasionally. Sad to say that when I do try that, the "Clinton News Network" spin-machine gets turned on and I tune out.

Mr. Brown, it's not that we dislike you - we can't because we know nothing of you personally. Our perception of you is based on your delivery and news content. How about a conversation with your News Director(s)? Give us a CHANCE to like your program, even your network. Are you game?

I would love to share your response with my cohorts, if you'll be so kind to do so. Thanks."


And finally, his not-so-friendly retort:

"First the campain is in my view silly. It proves that you can cut and paste. Second I have no interest in debating this. The proof of what we do is there every night. If you actually find Fox more balanced then I expect you to watch Fox. I don't find them balanced at all. But, again the program speaks for itself. "